Economic Development & Housing
It was awhile back in my career, that I was in a conversation with an economic development director from Port Charlotte, a rural coastal community in the day, down along the southwest coastline of Florida. While we were talking, I remember asking "what was their biggest challenge"; the response was housing! That was back in the late 80s; now I'm up on the Mississippi coast and the same issue exist forty years later, and probably always has. If there's inadequate housing , young families cannot or will not move to a place; start or bring new businesses; nor will new energy come to an area, which is the required ingredient to make a place, home!
My next question was, how can tourism help in this situation? She replied that tourism contributes to “quality of place,” and indicated to me that it was very important in attracting new residents and new businesses. Interestingly, in nearly 85 percent of relocation searches, after a company has evaluated the basics of a quality workforce, adequate transportation, and energy they look at the quality of life in the community before they look at labor costs, tax rates, available state and local incentives, etc.
The fact is that most business relocating talented employees are not by large corporations, but instead small and mid-sized companies, and a community has to be somewhere they and their employees want to live. Why then has "Quality of Place" been overlooked in economic development? It's measured solely by jobs created, rising incomes, the number of corporations attracted, industrial park construction, and high-tech companies attracted.
Perhaps it's because it’s considered the “soft stuff ” that can’t necessarily be illustrated with hard numbers. Simply put, "quality of place" is what makes a community a desirable, competitive, and economically vibrant place to live, wouldn't you agree?
It includes the quality of architecture and visual appearance of the community, housing, neighborhoods, cultural amenities , outdoor recreation, and tourism features, plus the quality of education and healthcare , the convenient availability of healthy quality food and shopping, and the general attitude in the community.
Families are looking for a good place for their children to grow up and their families to thrive. For many today, having a job is not enough, they want the place they live to be enjoyable as well. The more attractive and welcoming a community is, the more attractive it's to new residents who settle there, because they liked what they saw when they visited! They’ll bring their businesses and families and the new energy and economic development it generates along with them.
If planned carefully, development can attract visitors by creating affordable housing awareness, a sense of increase attractiveness, walk-ability, things to see and do, quality shopping, other amenities; I should know, I'm one of those people you are reading about in this post, and a proud homeowner in Marion county Mississippi.
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4 个月Thanks for taking the time to read my post; I hope it inspires you to connect if you haven't already! I'd like to share with you a little about business, life, and fun here on the third coast - if you don't mind? The Redneck Riviera began in the Florida panhandle cities of Panama City & PCB. Also called LA... Lower Alabama, but more affectionately known as the "Redneck Riviera". A strip of surf and sand that stretches some 95-miles along Florida's Hwy 98, with the most beautiful sugar white beaches in the world. But, as time moves on, boundaries change, and the Redneck Riviera has as well; extending deep into Mississippi, and boot toe of Louisiana's Florida Parishes. Follow my page and see if a visit; business engagement; or perhaps a total relocation is right for you or your business. If you live, work, or play here already, please share in the comments what makes the 3rd Coast great for you. Corrections and especially local updates are always appreciated, and will be used to improve this post.